Children’s Church By Age: What, When, and How to Teach Each Age Group

Teaching kids, especially multiple age groups, can be tricky, but when we keep kids’ developmental traits in mind, teaching gets easier and more effective (a win-win in our minds). In this week’s guest blog post, the team at Ministry Spark explores how you can reach every age group when you keep their key developmental stages and characteristics in mind…

Teaching kids every Sunday poses its own unique set of challenges. It can be even more challenging when you serve several age groups. That’s because age groups represent different stages of cognitive development, so they react to and process information differently. If we want to truly reach the kids we’re serving, we must make sure lessons are age-appropriate.

But how can we determine what lessons make sense for each age group? And how should we approach teaching styles according to these groups?

In this blog post, we’ll explore two developmental phases present in a children’s minsitry setting and what a strong teaching includes for each age group based on their cognitive development traits.

Early Childhood (Ages 2–7): Building the Foundations

The Preoperational Stage

According to developmental psychology, early childhood, usually ranging between 2 and 7 years old, but some would classify it as between 0 and 5 years old, is the preoperational stage. At this age, children can’t use logic or transform, combine, and separate ideas.

That said, here are some of the key notes to understand about kids in this age group:

• They use symbols like words and images to understand objects and ideas.
• Children this age can only understand their own perspectives. They will assume that everyone else sees and feels the same way they do.
• They have a shorter attention span.
• They tend to focus on a single object and ignore other things. For example, a dog is just a dog for a child at this age. They can’t comprehend that a dog is also a mammal.

So what does this mean for our early childhood teaching in children’s ministry? Two things:

1. Focus on the foundations of faith. When it comes to kids in this age group, it’s best to stick to the foundations of faith education: Who is God? Who is Jesus? What is the Bible? These should be the first things you discuss. Lay the foundation for telling God’s Big Story. From the beginning of Scripture to the end, God is telling us who He is and who we are in Him! Help children understand the fundamentals in age-appropriate ways. Simple stories from Jesus’ human life on earth, from the initial Christmas story to a lesson about Easter can be a good place to begin.
2. Play-based learning is key. Play-based learning is ideal for kids at this stage because play is how they explore and learn about the world around them. Include as many play elements as possible. It’s awesome when an early childhood curriculum incorporates song rhymes for babies and fun activities for toddlers. (Psst – Curricula like Wonder Ink, Bible in Life, Gospel Light, and HeartShaper are great at this!) Using picture books for Bible stories might also be helpful because illustrations can capture their attention. If you want to go the extra mile, look for a pop-up storybook! The 3D element is a crowd-pleaser, especially among the older kids of this group! Other teaching styles include using simple language and repetition (i.e., repeating characteristics of God each time you meet).

Elementary Years (Ages 7–12): Forging a Connection with Jesus

The Concrete Operational Stage

Elementary-age children are now at the concrete operational stage. They’re starting to develop logical thinking skills when it comes to concrete physical objects and situations. That said, they still might struggle with abstract and hypothetical thinking.

These are some of the behavioral patterns you might notice with kids in this age group:

• They can now consider multiple aspects of a situation at once. For example, they can now understand that a dog isn’t just a dog—it’s also a mammal.
• Children this age can think beyond themselves. For example, they can recognize that other people might not share their likes and interests.
• They can group things logically (e.g., sorting toys by color or size).
• They can understand the concept of cause and effect.
• Kids this age have slightly longer attention spans.

So how do these developmental stages influence the way we teach this age group? Two things:

1. Parables and Stories with Morals – Now that children are capable of logical thinking to some extent, it’s time to bring out the parables. Here are some of our favorites:

When discussing the stories, emphasize who God is and what they learned because of that. Encourage them to reflect on the stories and how they can apply truth to their lives.

2. Interaction is a must. Encouraging interaction is a good idea for elementary kids, especially for third- to sixth-graders. Utilize small groups and give them projects they can work on together. This way, they can socialize with their peers and exchange ideas. Within an elementary curriculum, it’s important that experiential environments are incorporated for kids ages 6–8. This can be done through art, interactive storytelling, and collaboration. Kids at this age are incredibly curious and experimentally creative, so letting them hone these skills is a win.

More Tips on How to Choose a Curriculum That Children Will Love

To make the most of your curriculum, here are more tips to consider:

• Engage parents. Parents are the primary influencers of their children, so connecting with and empowering them is vital. Most children’s church curriculum comes with parent pieces, take-home elements, and communication suggestions. Be sure to choose one that helps you support parents where you can as they connect with their children.
• Make sure kids feel welcomed. Some kids are shy around strangers, and others are new to church and want to learn more. So, be warm and welcoming to everyone. Let it be a safe space for them to ask questions about the faith and express themselves without judgment. See that your curriculum offers opportunities for children to be curious and to ask questions. A bonus is if it gives them space to respond to God in worship!
• Set a budget. This tip is especially helpful for planning the year ahead. Whether you are a large church or a small church planning a children’s church curriculum, budgets help us get to where we want to go.
• Get creative. Is there a student struggling to keep up with the group? See if there are tips and activity options in the curriculum that can help. Some kids learn by hearing, seeing, or doing. See if your curriculum has options to reach all learning styles in creative ways. (Wonder Ink does this well in their Bible story time where they can hear it, see it, and act it out!)

Conclusion: Trust the Process (and God)

We understand the struggle of choosing the right curriculum to reach the children in your ministry. Pray and allow God to lead you in the right direction.

Make space in your ministry for kids to express themselves as they explore their creativity! Remind them consistently who God is and who they are in Him. If you do this, kids will love coming back.

One last thing: don’t worry too much about this. Trust the process and trust God to lead you. And if you try something for a few months and it’s not working, no big deal! You can always shift and change directions when needed.

Author Bio: The Ministry Spark Team is made of ministry volunteers, church leaders, and experts who partner with David C Cook. We’re here to help as you lead children to know, love, and follow Jesus. Head on over to MinistrySpark.com for more!